Organization offers hands-on experience

Public relations is cheap for Texas Tech's School of Mass Communications. That's because six students do the work - from press releases to public service announcements.

RaiderCommunications - which opened for business and class credit this fall - is made up of students from the Public Relations Student Society of America. They advertise their services as everything from brochures to newsletters to display cases.

Right now the only client is the mass communications school. The next target is the university. After that, it's Lubbock.

"This gives us a chance to bring this practical opportunity into the classroom," said Judy Oskam, the group's adviser. "I'm trying to use everything we do as a learning experience."

And it's working, says Tamara Brown, RaiderComm president.

"It's helping us learn more rapidly," the senior public relations major said. "Instead of three assignments a semester, we get 10 a week, and we're working with many professors."

Brown said she understands a lot more about what public relations is like in a professional agency and how to communicate with her professors, many of whom are now her clients.

"I get results from my work," she said. "It's much more rewarding than an A in a class.

"Our faculty are willing to work with us and are inspiring us constantly."

So why hire a group of novices?

"Obviously first of all, we are going to be more affordable," Brown said. "If Planned Parenthood, for example, came to us, we have access to all the students in the mass comm school. Things we can't do ourselves, we can get help on."

Right now, RaiderComm only bills for its expenses. That could change someday with the implementation of charges such as hourly fees. At some point, the organization may contract with other students for services, such as hiring a radio/television student for a public service announcement.